Match Report : 12/03/2016

Town kept up their unbeaten streak at Huish Park as the Glovers defeated Notts County and pushed Town further away from the League Two relegation zone.

Francois Zoko’s looped header gave Darren Way’s men all three points against a stubborn County side, but it could have been more comfortable were it not for debutant Leroy Lita’s missed penalty.

The result gives Yeovil a sizeable cushion over York City in the bid to stay up, and keeps up Way’s unbeaten record at home since becoming Town manager.

On a sunny day at Huish Park, both sides looked to attack from the off. Veteran striker Jon Stead had the first half-chance after a well-worked corner routine, but Town got enough bodies in the way to block the shot.

Marc Laird had the Glovers’ first chance of the game after quarter of an hour. A long throw into the box was cleared to Cornick and after a lung-busting run, the winger played in the on-rushing Laird, but the midfielder’s shot just inside the area went agonisingly wide.

The provider very nearly turned scorer as Cornick flashed a shot wide from 20 yards midway through the half, before good work down the right wing from Connor Roberts and Kevin Dawson saw the latter curl his shot well over the bar from just inside the box.

Laird picked up the first yellow of the afternoon after a late challenge brought down Rob Milsom, but the game went flat before referee Gavin Ward blew his whistle for half-time.

But the game kicked into life shortly after the interval. Cornick’s right-footed cross from the opposite flank whipped in a right-footed cross into the box, and ZOKO’s header looped into the top corner past Scott Loach to break the deadlock.

Jon Stead flashed a header of his own past Artur Krysiak’s left-hand post as the visitors looked for an instant reply, but Cornick nearly made it 2-0 but his curled shot from just inside the box went just off target.

Brandon Goodship replaced his fellow Bournemouth loanee Cornick shortly after, and Tahvon Campbell was introduced for the booked Laird. Yeovil were on top after gaining the lead, and the second goal came close to arriving on the hour but Dawson’s shot smashed against the post in front of the Thatchers Gold stand.

Liam Noble came close to equalising from range as the visitors tried to get back on level terms, before the goalscorer Zoko limped off with twenty minutes left to be replaced by debutant Leroy Lita.

Yeovil were then awarded a penalty for handball in the box from a County defender. Lita stepped to take it on his debut, but Loach dived to his left and pushed away the spot-kick.

Nathan Smith was close to grabbing a rare goal as County keeper Loach pushed away his goal-bound header from a corner, before Lita missed from eight yards deep into stoppage time.

The miss wasn’t punished however as referee Ward blew his whistle shortly after. Huish Park erupted into cheers of “We are staying up” as Town won four in a row.